2012 Melbourne Storm season explained

Year:2012
Team Colour:
  1. 6C0094
Font Colour:
  1. ffd700
League:NRL
League Rank:2nd
League Wins:17
League Draws:0
League Losses:7
Points For:579
Points Against:361
Playoff Result:Premiers
Ceo Title:CEO
Ceo:Ron Gauci
Coach Title:Coach
Captain:Cameron Smith (25 games)
Ryan Hoffman (1 game)
Cooper Cronk (1 game)
Stadium:AAMI Park – 30,050
Avg Attendance:12,685
High Attendance:20,333 (Round 8)
Top Tries:Billy Slater (16)
Top Goals:Cameron Smith (78)
Top Points:Cameron Smith (164)
List:yes
List Link:Melbourne Storm#Season summaries

The 2012 Melbourne Storm season was the club's 15th NRL season. Coached by Craig Bellamy and captained by Cameron Smith, they competed in and won the NRL's 2012 Telstra Premiership. The first nine weeks of the season were very successful, with the club winning all games for what was at the time their best start to a season. From round 10 to round 21 they won only three games and lost seven, including a five-game losing streak between rounds 16 and 21, their second worst ever. From round 22 onward they recovered their winning form and finished the regular season with five straight wins, finishing in second place. The Storm then went on to defeat South Sydney and Manly in the finals series before going on to face minor premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 2012 NRL Grand Final, winning 14–4 to claim the Premiership.

Season summary

Milestone games

Round Player Milestone
Round 1Storm debut
Round 2Storm debut
Round 5100th game
Round 12Storm debut
50th game
Round 13150th NRL game
Round 14250th game coached
Round 18200th game
Round 19200th game
Round 20Storm debut
Round 2350th game
NRL debut
Round 2550th game

Jerseys

In 2012 the Storm jerseys were made by Kooga. They retained their predominantly purple home jersey, and predominantly white away jerseys from the previous two seasons.

Heritage

In round 5 for the NRL's heritage round, Melbourne again wore a replica of the original 1998 home jersey.

Special

For the round 12 home game against the Brisbane Broncos, Melbourne again wore a special "battle" jersey similar to the one wore in 2011 featuring a silver chevron design with a purple camouflage motif.[10]

In round 19 against the North Queensland Cowboys at AAMI Park, the players wore a one-off promotional jersey was worn to promote The Dark Knight Rises. The jersey was predominantly black with the Batman logo on the front and back.[11]

Indigenous

For the first time in club history, Melbourne wore an indigenous design in the round 22 match against the Penrith Panthers. The promotion was a part of the NRL's Close the Gap round, a campaign the NRL had begun supporting in partnership with Oxfam in 2010.[12] [13] [14] The jersey was mostly orange, a colour never worn previously by the club, and featured the Storm’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) logo which was designed by Lenny Briggs and Dixon Patten.

Attendance averages

[15] Total Matches Average
Home 152,21712 12,685
Away 180,71012 15,059
All regular season games 332,927 24 13,872
Finals 128,269 3 42,756
All Games 461,196 27 17,081

Fixtures

Pre season

DateOpponentVenueResultTries Goals Field goals
4 FebruaryTrial Easts TigersLanglands Park, Brisbane368M Fonua (2), Y Tonumaipea (2), W Chambers, S Waqa, R Pooley[16]
11 FebruaryTrial Canberra RaidersLavington Sports Ground, Albury1827T Lowrie, M McGahan, R Hinchcliffe, R HoffmanL Kelly [17] [18] [19]
18 FebruaryTrial Brisbane BroncosNorth Hobart Oval, Hobart3430B Slater (2), C Cronk (2), G Widdop, M FonuaC Smith 5/6 [20] [21]

Regular season

Matches

Source:[22]

DateOpponentVenueResultTries Goals Field goals
3 March1 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, Canberra2419B Slater (2), C Cronk, J O'NeillC Smith 4/4[23]
11 March2 South Sydney RabbitohsAAMI Park, Melbourne2410D Nielsen (2), B Slater (2), M DuffieC Smith 2/5[24]
18 March3 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold Coast306M Duffie (2), B Slater (2), S Manu, A QuinnC Smith 2/5, G Widdop 1/1[25] [26]
24 March4 Sydney RoostersAAMI Park, Melbourne444B Slater (2), C Cronk (2), D Nielsen, K Proctor, R Hoffman, W ChambersC Smith 5/7, G Widdop 1/1[27]
31 March5 Newcastle KnightsAAMI Park, Melbourne3422G Widdop, M Duffie, R Hoffman, B Slater, W Chambers, T LowrieC Smith 5/6[28]
8 April6 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville4218M Duffie (2), K Proctor (2), W Chambers (2), R Hinchcliffe, J RylesC Smith 5/8[29]
14 April7 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsAAMI Park, Melbourne126R Hinchcliffe, R HoffmanC Smith 2/2C Cronk 0/1[30]
25 April8 New Zealand WarriorsAAMI Park, Melbourne3214W Chambers (3), D Nielsen (2), J O'NeillC Smith 4/6[31]
5 May9 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, Sydney4410J O'Neill (3), M Duffie, C Cronk, R Hoffman, W Chambers, R HinchcliffeC Smith 5/7, G Widdop 1/1[32] [33]
13 May10 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Stadium, Sydney1012D Nielsen, M DuffieC Smith 1/2[34]
20 May11Bye
25 May12 Brisbane BroncosAAMI Park, Melbourne3410T Lowrie (2), B Slater (2), W Chambers, J O'NeillG Widdop 5/6[35]
3 June13 New Zealand WarriorsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland2210G Widdop, J Lowe, W Chambers, C SmithC Smith 3/5[36]
8 June14 Wests TigersAAMI Park, Melbourne610D NielsenG Widdop 1/2[37]
18 June15 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, Sydney2622T Lowrie, C Smith, B Norrie, M DuffieC Smith 5/5[38]
24 June16 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsVirgin Australia Stadium, Mackay420A QuinnC Smith 0/1[39]
30 June17Bye
7 July18 Canberra RaidersAAMI Park, Melbourne1240J O'Neill (2)G Widdop 2/2[40]
14 July19 North Queensland CowboysAAMI Park, Melbourne1620M Duffie, A Quinn, G WiddopC Smith 2/3[41]
21 July20 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, Parramatta1016R Kostjasyn, R HoffmanC Smith 1/2[42]
27 July21 St George-Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, Wollongong1826W Chambers, R Hinchcliffe, K ProctorC Smith 3/3[43]
4 August22 Penrith PanthersAAMI Park, Melbourne466C Cronk (2), J O'Neill (2), S Waqa (2), J Bromwich, S ManuC Smith 7/8[44]
10 August23 Gold Coast TitansAAMI Park, Melbourne2416B Slater, C Cronk, R Hoffman, G WiddopC Smith 4/4[45]
17 August24 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane1918S Waqa (2), C CronkC Smith 3/3C Cronk 1/1[46]
27 August25 Cronulla SharksAAMI Park, Melbourne2018R Hoffman (2), S Waqa, W ChambersC Smith 2/4[47]
1 September26 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, Sydney266R Hoffman, S Manu, B Norrie, K Proctor, S WaqaC Smith 3/5[48]

Finals

See main article: 2012 NRL Grand Final.

2012 Coaching Staff

NRL

NRL Under 20s

2012 Squad

width=5%Capwidth=1%Nat.width=30%Player namewidth=15%Positionwidth=10%First Storm gamewidth=35%Previous First Grade RL club
55Cameron Smith (c)HK2002 Melbourne Storm
58Billy SlaterFB2003 Melbourne Storm
62Ryan HoffmanSR,LK2003 Melbourne Storm
73Cooper CronkHB2004 Melbourne Storm
91Anthony QuinnWG,CE2007 Newcastle Knights
97Will ChambersCE2007 Queensland Reds
98Sika ManuSR2007 Melbourne Storm
104Dane NielsenWG,CE2008 Melbourne Storm
105Kevin ProctorSR2008 Melbourne Storm
110Ryan HinchcliffeHK,LK2009 Canberra Raiders
116Luke KellyFE,HB2009 Melbourne Storm
119Jesse BromwichPR2010 Melbourne Storm
120Rory KostjasynHK,LK2010 Melbourne Storm
121Todd LowrieSR,LK2010 Parramatta Eels
123Bryan NorriePR2010 Cronulla Sharks
124Matt DuffieWG,CE2010 Melbourne Storm
125Gareth WiddopHB2010 Melbourne Storm
127Justin O'NeillWG2010 Sydney Roosters
130Jaiman LowePR,SR2011 South Sydney Rabbitohs
134Maurice BlairWG,CE2011 Penrith Panthers
136Sisa WaqaCE,WG2011 Sydney Roosters
138Jack AfamasagaPR2011 Cronulla Sharks
139Siosaia VavePR2012 Cronulla Sharks
140Jason RylesPR2012 Sydney Roosters
141Michael GreenfieldSR,LK2012 St George Illawarra Dragons
142Richard Fa'aosoPR,SR2012 Newcastle Knights
143Mahe FonuaCE2012 Melbourne Storm
align=center-Kirisome Auva'aWGYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Kenny BromwichPR,LKYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Mitch GarbuttPR,SRYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Slade GriffenHKYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Ben HamptonHBYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Tohu HarrisSRYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Matt McGahanHB,FEYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Jordan McLeanPRYet to Debut Melbourne Storm
align=center-Shea MoylanWG,FBYet to Debut Brisbane Broncos

Player movement

Losses

Gains

Representative honours

The following players have played a representative match in 2012.

Player Test match[49]
NRL All Stars Queensland Queensland Australia
City Australia
Country
Australia Queensland Queensland Australia
Australia (C) Queensland (C) Queensland (C) Queensland (C) Australia (C)
New Zealand
Queensland
New Zealand

Statistics

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2012 NRL season.

NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPoints
40000
272008
18130052
26100141
17100040
60000
41004
10000
2740016
27110044
10000
141004
151004
2340016
1930012
2270028
252008
21110044
2360024
2030012
221004
21160064
252780164
140000
1170028
26412040
26 players used 119 90 1 657

Scorers

Most points in a game: 14

Most tries in a game: 3

Winning games

Highest score in a winning game: 46 points

Lowest score in a winning game: 12 points

Greatest winning margin: 40 points

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 9

Losing games

Highest score in a losing game: 18 points

Lowest score in a losing game: 4 points

Greatest losing margin: 28 points

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 5

NRL Under-20s

See main article: 2012 NRL Under-20s season. In the fifth season of the NRL's National Youth Championship, Dean Pay continued as coach for a third season, with Melbourne finishing the regular season in 9th place on the ladder, meaning the club would not qualify for the finals for the first time since the 2008 season. Ben Hampton was selected as halfback and captain for Queensland in the mid-season Under-20s Origin match, with Young Tonumaipea selected on the wing for the winning New South Wales team.[1]

In October, Hampton and Mahe Fonua would be selected for the Junior Kangaroos team that would defeat a Junior Kiwis team that included fellow Storm teammate Tohu Harris.

Statistics

Scorers

Most points in a game: 20 points

Most tries in a game: 4

Most points (season): 106

Most tries (season): 19

Winning games

Highest score in a winning game: 60 points

Lowest score in a winning game: 12 points

Greatest winning margin: 42 points

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 4

Losing games

Highest score in a losing game: 22 points

Lowest score in a losing game: 8 points

Greatest losing margin: 26 points

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 3

Feeder clubs

Melbourne continued their relationships with both the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Easts Tigers to send any reserve players to play in their respective state cup competitions. Both teams would miss the finals in 2012.[1]

In the Queensland Cup, Easts Tigers coached by Troy McCarthy fell just short of making the finals. Needing a win and other results to go their way in the final round of the season, the Tigers thrashed the Central Queensland Capras 68–12, missing out on making the finals on points difference of just 20 points.[52] The team had been a strong chance of making the finals through the season, but consecutive losses late in the season proved costly.[53]

S. G. Ball Cup

Melbourne's junior representative team in the New South Wales Rugby League under-18s competition S. G. Ball Cup again missed the finals in their fourth season in the competition. Coached by club high performance manager Kim Williams, the team would win only two and draw one of their nine matches for the season, finishing in 13th place on the ladder out of the 18 teams competing.[54]

Awards

Trophy Cabinet

Melbourne Storm Awards Night

Held at Melbourne Convention Centre on Friday 5 October.[55] [56]

Dally M Awards Night

On 4 August, the 2012 Dally M Awards were held.[58]

RLIF Awards Night

On 17 October, the RLIF held their annual award ceremony[59] and presented a number of awards to Melbourne Storm personnel including naming Cameron Smith the 'International Rugby League Player of the Year'.[60]

Additional Awards

Notes and References

  1. Book: Middleton . David . 2012 Official Rugby League Annual . NewsLifeMedia . Sydney.
  2. News: Cup clash to honour Bell . South East Advertiser . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . Mount Gravatt, Queensland . 63.
  3. News: RL:Chambers makes strong Storm return . AAP Sports News Wire . 4 February 2012 . Sydney, New South Wales.
  4. News: Gould . Russell . Shake-up passes $26.5m to Storm . Herald-Sun . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 11 February 2012 . Melbourne, Victoria . 58.
  5. Web site: Billy Slater is the best Buzz has ever seen Herald Sun. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120407214128/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/billy-slater-is-the-best-buzz-has-ever-seen/story-fn7shkwp-1226302728783. 2012-04-07.
  6. Web site: Proszenko . Adrian . Sudden retirement a lesson for all players . smh.com.au . Fairfax Media . 18 August 2023 . Sydney, New South Wales . 29 July 2012.
  7. News: Bellamy: Speculation not to blame. News.com.au. August 2012. Gould. Russell.
  8. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-proud-of-hometown-boy-mahe-fonua/story-e6frfgbo-1226447936834 Storm Proud Of Hometown Boy Mahe Fonua
  9. Web site: Storm builds strong front . 2012-09-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120916104304/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Storm-builds-strong-front/63919 . 16 September 2012 . dmy-all.
  10. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/the-lowdown-strom-v-broncos/story-e6frfgbo-1226367104426 The Lowdown Storm V Broncos
  11. Web site: Prizes galore at Storming the Knight - Melbourne Storm . 2012-07-15 . https://archive.today/20121230120255/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Prizes-galore-at-Storming-the-Knight/59095 . 2012-12-30 . dead .
  12. Web site: Close the Gap | Oxfam Australia. 3 August 2011.
  13. Web site: Storm celebrates Close the Gap round - Melbourne Storm . 2012-08-31 . https://archive.today/20121230120255/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Storm-celebrates-Close-the-Gap-round/60165 . 2012-12-30 . dead .
  14. Web site: Rugby League helps Close the Gap | Oxfam Australia. 3 August 2011.
  15. Web site: 2012 Attendances . Rugby League Tables . 14 June 2024.
  16. News: Territory duo show class for Storm in trial match . NT News . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 5 February 2012 . Darwin, Northern Territory . 49.
  17. News: Recruit shines as Raiders down Storm . NT News . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 12 February 2012 . Darwin, Northern Territory.
  18. News: Gaskin . Lee . Campese kicks home Raiders . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited . 12 February 2012 . Sydney, New South Wales . 57.
  19. News: Gould . Russell . Bellamy's rusty squad will be better for run-out Storming finish . Herald-Sun . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 12 February 2012 . Melbourne, Victoria . 59.
  20. News: Smith . Adam . Crowd-pleaser Storm victory thrills Crowd-pleasing Storm triumph over Broncos . Sunday Tasmanian . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 19 February 2012 . Hobart, Tasmania . 88.
  21. News: Gould . Russell . Storm's stars on fire Hinchcliffe concussed . Herald-Sun . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 19 February 2012 . Melbourne, Victoria . 54.
  22. Web site: Rugby League Tables – Melbourne. 18 August 2023.
  23. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 1 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  24. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 2 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  25. Web site: Melbourne Storm blow Gold Coast Titans away 30-6 Herald Sun. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120407220047/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-round-3-titans-v-storm/story-e6frfgbo-1226302530897. 2012-04-07.
  26. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 3 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  27. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 4 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  28. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 5 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  29. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 6 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  30. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 7 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  31. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 8 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  32. Web site: Melbourne Storm demolish the Penrith Panthers thetelegraph.com.au. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120616222359/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-round-9-panthers-v-storm/story-fnbgd5r9-1226347549115. 2012-06-16.
  33. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 9 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  34. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 10 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  35. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 12 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  36. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 13 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  37. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 14 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  38. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 15 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  39. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 16 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  40. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 18 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  41. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 19 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  42. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 20 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  43. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 21 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  44. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 22 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  45. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 23 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  46. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 24 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  47. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 25 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  48. Web site: NRL 2012 - Round 26 . Rugby League Project . 18 August 2023.
  49. Web site: Kiwis' clash key to Sheens' Test future - NRL.com . www.nrl.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121005002554/http://www.nrl.com/four-storm-stars-picked-for-kangaroos/tabid/10874/newsid/70150/default.aspx . 2012-10-05.
  50. Web site: 2012 Melbourne Point Scorers. afltables.com. 14 June 2024.
  51. Web site: Melbourne Storm – NRL 2012. rugbyleagueproject.org. 14 June 2024.
  52. Web site: James . Ethan . Big win not enough to get Tigers over the line . melbournestorm.com.au . 14 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130427211305/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/qldcupreport . 27 April 2013 . 28 August 2012 . dead.
  53. Web site: QLD Cup 2012 - Eastern Suburbs Tigers . Rugby League Project . 14 June 2024.
  54. Web site: SG Ball 2012 draw and results . 14 June 2024.
  55. News: Melbourne Storm 2012 Awards . March 2018.
  56. Book: Official Melbourne Storm Yearbook 2012 . . 26–27.
  57. Web site: Smith secures back-to-back Player of the Year awards . melbournestorm.com.au . 10 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121117084408/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Smith-secures-backtoback-Player-of-the-Year-awards/64861 . 17 November 2012.
  58. Web site: Ben Barba wins the 2012 Dally M Medal - NRL.com . www.nrl.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120907082746/http://www.nrl.com/ben-barba-wins-the-2012-dally-m-award/tabid/10874/newsid/69716/default.aspx . 2012-09-07.
  59. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/cameron-smith-international-player-of-the-year/story-e6frfgbo-1226497959173 Herald Sun
  60. Web site: Smith Named World’s Best Player . melbournestorm.com.au . 14 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121121014904/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Smith-Named-Worlds-Best-Player/65213 . 21 November 2012 . 17 October 2012 . dead.